If you’re anything like me, you find it difficult to pick up a book that isn’t about romance. I constantly need a trope or a couple to root for in a book, a TV series, or a movie, or else I’m not interested. I recently started to read more mystery/thriller books, but in the beginning, I still needed there to be romance involved. If this sounds a little bit like you, I’ve compiled a list of mystery romances that helped me get out of my romance mindset and explore more genres. Make sure to check the trigger warnings, as some include death, child abuse, abortion, and murder.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
TRIGGER WARNING: CHILD ABUSE AND ABORTION
Say what you will, but I will die on a hill alone defending this storyline and recommending it as someone’s first thriller or mystery book for romance readers. The twists and turns this book had were unbelievable, and I found myself reading this book twice in one day because it left me feeling confused about the guesses and beliefs I had throughout the book. I stopped caring about the romance trope in this book the minute I read “The Manuscript” by Verity — you’ll know once you get there. The story follows Lowen as she becomes a ghostwriter for the famous author, Verity, and to jump into the role, Lowen moves in with Verity and her husband, Jeremy, along with their son. Verity was seriously injured after a car wreck, so bad she can’t even move or speak from her bed. Things get sketchy as Lowen gets closer to Jeremy.
The Inmate by Freida McFadden
I discovered Freida McFadden’s books way too late, and I’m telling you now so you don’t make the same mistake. Her way with mysterious twists and outcomes is beyond me, and I only wish to someday be able to guess the truth before it’s revealed, but I have yet to do that. The Inmate intrigued me at first because I love second-chance romances, and this involved high school sweethearts meeting again after years apart when Shane was sentenced to life in prison for a series of murders, and it was Brooke’s testimony that put him there. Now, Brooke is working as a nurse at a men’s maximum-security prison, the same one Shane is at — what could go wrong? Did I mention Brooke also gave birth to Shane’s baby after he was arrested?
Never Lie by Freida McFadden
I will say this again: Freida McFadden is the queen of tricks and twists. If you can guess the ending plot twist, then you deserve a cookie because I was jaw-dropped for days trying to wrap my head around it and how I missed it. It was a little slow at first and took me a second to get into, but once the pace picked up, I couldn’t put the book down again. My only regret was reading this at night. Never Lie follows newlyweds Tricia and Ethan as they search for a new home. They visit this huge manor that used to belong to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a psychiatrist who’s been missing for four years. Bad weather forces them to stay trapped in the house for days, and to pass the time, Tricia finds the psychiatrist’s old patient tapes and listens to them — that was a bad idea. Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead. If you know, you know.
The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
TRIGGER WARNING: SUBSTANCE ADDICTION, MURDER
If you’re a fan of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, you’ll want to read this next. We always want to believe that the people closest to us would never lie, but would you be able to defend them from murder, or your significant other from murdering the person they cheated on you with? Sarah and Adam are at odds with each other in their marriage; Sarah is successful while Adam is struggling. Adam turns to Kelly for comfort behind Sarah’s back, and then she ends up dead in his and Sarah’s other home. Sarah has to prove he’s innocent, but it’s difficult when the evidence points to him.
Slow Burn by Julie Garwood
My best friend’s brother is the one for me! If that’s your trope, make sure your next read is Slow Burn by Julie Garwood, another queen of the mystery genre. Kate is as sweet as can be, but someone has it out for her — why else would bombs suddenly be going off everywhere she goes? In these times of fear, she seeks the help of the police where her best friend’s brother, Dylan, works. She leans on him for comfort, but emotions get too high and partially distract Dylan from the problem at hand. Dylan is the only one who can keep the mysterious murderer away, but who could want sweet Kate dead?
I know changing genres and reading outside your comfort zone is hard, but by branching out, you’re opening yourself up to even more books you might enjoy. Start small and incorporate romance in new genres when you’re trying them out, and try the books listed because each one involves a different type of romance that will hook you in at first. But by the end you won’t even be paying attention to the romance; you’ll be enthralled in the mystery and trying to solve it.
For more recommendations on captivating thrillers and mysteries, check out this article by clicking here.
For more horror books that make your skin crawl, click here.
